"Members of Hero City, listen well — from this day forward, so long as someone is a friend of Chu Feng, the gates of our Hero City will be open to them."
Ying Mingchao addressed the crowd once more.
Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the crowd shifted yet again.
As long as they were Chu Feng's friends — that meant cultivation level was no longer a factor.
Hero City had always accepted only the elite. Ying Mingchao's declaration was, once again, a clear signal to everyone just how important Chu Feng was in his heart.
Even though Ying Mingchao's actions had already broken the rules of Hero City — one could even say he was tearing down his own banner — not a single person present dared to criticize him. In fact, not one of them even felt he was wrong.
Chu Feng had saved Ying Mingchao. Without Chu Feng, Ying Mingchao might have remained trapped in the Kong Heavenly Clan for the rest of his life.
On a small scale, this was the grace of saving a life. On a large scale, it was nothing short of the grace of rebirth.
Given Ying Mingchao's personality, it was only natural that he valued Chu Feng so highly.
Whoosh—
Just as Ying Mingchao was announcing Chu Feng's standing before the world, a figure silently melted into the sea of people.
This person was none other than the Barrier Sacred Maiden.
Although her attempt at reconciliation with Chu Feng had failed, she had not given up on joining Hero City.
However, considering the relationship between Chu Feng and Ying Mingchao, she didn't dare show herself while both of them were present.
After all, if Chu Feng said something unfavorable about her at this moment, who knew what Ying Mingchao might do to her.
But Ying Mingchao's cultivation was far beyond ordinary. The moment the Barrier Sacred Maiden drew near, he had already sensed her aura.
During the days Chu Feng had been away, Ying Mingchao had been asking around, gathering information about Chu Feng's affairs. Who had shown Chu Feng kindness, and who had grudges against him — Ying Mingchao already knew at least a fair amount.
"Can you all hear what I said earlier?" Ying Mingchao called out in a loud voice.
"We obey!" A thunderous roar echoed through the air, as no member of Hero City dared defy Ying Mingchao's command.
"There is one more thing — remember this well. Friends of Chu Feng are friends of our Hero City, and enemies of Chu Feng are enemies of our Hero City. For instance, her."
As he spoke, Ying Mingchao's palm shot forward, grabbing at the void.
"Aagh!"
A miserable scream rang out the next instant, and a figure materialized from within the crowd.
With a flick of Ying Mingchao's hand, the figure was ripped from the ground and rose into the air, coming into full view of everyone present.
"That's the Barrier Sacred Maiden?!"
The crowd was stunned, for the Barrier Sacred Maiden had arrived concealed — none of them had detected her presence at all.
Her sudden appearance shocked them greatly, but what shocked them even more was that Ying Mingchao had attacked her outright.
None of them had felt Ying Mingchao's oppressive aura, yet judging from the agonized look on the Barrier Sacred Maiden's face, they could tell that the force she was enduring was no trifling matter.
"City Lord Ying, spare me! City Lord Ying, please spare my life!"
The Barrier Sacred Maiden struggled in agony high above the ground, her pleas for mercy coming out in an extremely weak voice.
Moreover, her aura was growing fainter by the second. Ying Mingchao's oppressive force was seeping into her body, and if this continued, she would sooner or later be crushed to dust by it.
"Senior, let it go. What happened between us is already in the past. Let her go today," Chu Feng spoke up.
"Since Brother Chu Feng asks, then I shall spare your life." Ying Mingchao released his grip.
The moment he let go, the Barrier Sacred Maiden plummeted to the ground like a kite with its string cut, landing in a heap, gasping for breath and coughing ceaselessly.
Even though Ying Mingchao had held her only for a brief moment, her current state of utter frailty made the crowd understand all the more clearly just how terrifying Ying Mingchao truly was.
"Thank you, City Lord Ying, for sparing my life! Thank you, Young Friend Chu Feng, for interceding on my behalf!"
Though she was so weak she could barely move, the Barrier Sacred Maiden forced herself to scramble to her feet, bowing again and again to Ying Mingchao and Chu Feng in gratitude.
On her face lingered a look of lingering dread, for she alone knew what Ying Mingchao had truly done to her in that moment.
She knew — she had genuinely walked the edge of the gates of death. She had truly come within a breath of being killed.
She was terrified, because she understood that if Ying Mingchao wanted her dead, she could die at any time.
Rather than fleeing for her life now, it would be far better to fully dissolve the resentment that Chu Feng and Ying Mingchao held toward her. Only then could she hope to live for any length of time.
"No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Chu Feng," Ying Mingchao said coldly.
"Young Friend Chu Feng, thank you for being magnanimous enough to let bygones be bygones. Thank you… thank you…" The Barrier Sacred Maiden hurriedly turned to Chu Feng, begging for his forgiveness with all her might.